Refrigeration device with evaporative condensate dissipation system

ABSTRACT

A refrigerated device has an evaporative condensate dissipation system for disposing water from its cooling element during defrosting. Progressive stages operating at increasing temperatures provide a cascading evaporative dissipation. One pan receives water from the cooling coil and operates at ambient temperature for a first evaporative dissipation. Overflow from the pan flows through a first standpipe to a second stage. The second stage includes another pan that receives water from the first standpipe, and is heated by hot gas refrigerant for operation at a higher second temperature to provide a second evaporative dissipation. Overflow from the second pan is directed through a second standpipe to a third stage. The third stage includes a third pan that receives the water from the second pan via the second standpipe, and is heated by an electric heater for operation at a higher third temperature to provide a third evaporative dissipation.

BACKGROUND

This section is intended to provide a background or context to theinvention recited in the claims. The description herein may includeconcepts that could be pursued, but are not necessarily ones that havebeen previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwiseindicated herein, what is described in this section is not prior art tothe description and claims in this application and is not admitted to beprior art by inclusion in this section.

The present invention relates generally to the field oftemperature-controlled display devices (e.g. refrigerated displaydevices or cases, etc.) having a temperature-controlled space forstoring and displaying products such as refrigerated foods or otherperishable objects. More specifically, the present invention relates toa refrigerated display case having an active evaporative condensatedissipation system for removing liquid condensate (i.e. melted frost orice) from a cooling coil during or following a defrost mode of operationfor the case. Still more specifically, the present invention relates toan active evaporative condensate dissipation system having multipleevaporative dissipation zones that operate on an as-needed basis and atsuccessively higher temperatures for increasing an overall evaporativedissipation capability of the system.

It is well known to provide a temperature-controlled display device suchas a refrigerator, freezer, refrigerated merchandiser, refrigerateddisplay case, etc., that may be used in commercial, institutional, andresidential applications for storing or displaying refrigerated orfrozen objects. For example, it is known to provide service typerefrigerated display cases for displaying fresh food products such asbeef, pork, poultry, fish, etc. Such display cases typically have aclosed front (e.g. with doors for accessing food products stored withinthe temperature-controlled space), or may have an open-front that uses aflow of chilled air that is discharged across the open front of the caseto help maintain a desired temperature within the temperature-controlledspace.

Such refrigerated cases typically include cooling elements (e.g. coolingcoils, heat exchangers, evaporators, etc.) that receive a coolant (e.g.a liquid such as a glycol-water mixture, or a refrigerant, etc.) from acooling system (such as a refrigeration system) during a cooling mode oroperation to provide cooling to the temperature-controlled space.Oftentimes the cooling system operates to provide coolant to the coolingelement at a temperature below 32° F., causing moisture from the air inthe ambient environment to condense on the cooling element, andresulting in an accumulation of frost and/or ice on an exterior surfaceof the cooling element that is removed (e.g. melted) during a defrostmode or operation of the case. The melted frost and/or ice (e.g. liquidcondensate, water, etc.) from the cooling coil is usually routed to asuitable drain at (or near) the case's location within a facility fordisposal. In some cases, such as where a drain may not be convenientlyaccessible at the location of the refrigerated case, it may be necessaryto allow the liquid condensate to accumulate in a suitable repository orreceptacle. The repository may be configured for removal to permitmanually disposing the liquid condensate (e.g. by pouring down a remotedrain, etc.), or the repository may be configured to simply contain theliquid condensate until it dissipates by evaporation.

However, such known evaporative dissipation systems have a number ofdeficiencies. For example, such known systems tend to overflow or spillwhen the rate of liquid condensate generated from defrosting exceeds therate at which the liquid condensate can dissipate (which is exacerbatedas ambient humidity rises because more defrosting of the cooling elementis required, but less of the condensate evaporates in the humidconditions).

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a refrigerated displaydevice or case with an improved evaporative condensate dissipationsystem that overcomes these and other disadvantages.

SUMMARY

One embodiment of the invention relates to a refrigerated case with anactive evaporative condensate dissipation pan system with electric heatbackup that is intended to efficiently remove melted condensate from thecooling element. The active evaporative condensate dissipation pansystem with electric heat backup is intended to evaporate defrost waterfrom refrigerated cases when no drain line is available. An activeevaporative condensate dissipation pan system with electric heat backupincludes three stages of evaporative dissipation, each having areceptacle (e.g. pan): a first water accumulation pan, a second waterdissipation pan with hot gas heating, and a third backup assist pan withelectric heating. With this multi-tier (or stage) pan system, condensateremoval is more efficient and reduces or eliminates the need for theelectric condensate evaporator to be energized while simultaneouslyassisting in transferring heat from the hot gas refrigerant from thecompressor discharge to provide at least partial de-superheating inadvance of the condenser. Each pan provides a progressive evaporativedissipation stage for the condensate removal process. In mostapplications, the electric pan will not operate under ‘standard’conditions. If the case is subjected to a severe environment that couldinclude high-humidity conditions, more condensate water may be producedby the cooling element and subsequently collected (as overflow from thefirst pan) in the second dissipation pan of the system. In the unlikelyevent that the first and second pans were not able to provide sufficientevaporative dissipation, the third electrical heating assist pan isavailable as a back-up to dissipate condensate water collected asoverflow from the second pan.

Another embodiment of the invention relates to a refrigerated displaydevice having a temperature-controlled space for storing and displayingproducts, and a refrigeration system operable in a cooling mode and adefrost mode. The refrigeration system has a compressor and a coolingelement and circulates a refrigerant through the cooling element duringthe cooling mode to provide cooling to the temperature-controlled space.An evaporative condensate dissipation system receives condensate liquidfrom an external surface of the cooling coil during the defrost mode anddissipates the condensate liquid by evaporation. The condensatedissipation system includes a first receptacle having a first overflowdevice, which receives the liquid condensate from the cooling coil. Asecond receptacle has a second overflow device disposed lower than thefirst receptacle and which receives the liquid condensate from the firstreceptacle when the liquid condensate in the first receptacle reachesthe first overflow device. The second receptacle includes a heatexchanger that receives hot gas refrigerant from the compressor forheating the liquid condensate. A third receptacle is disposed lower thanthe second receptacle and receive the liquid condensate from the secondreceptacle when the liquid condensate in the second receptacle reachesthe second overflow device. The third receptacle has an electric heatingelement controlled by a switch. The first receptacle and the secondreceptacle and the third receptacle each comprise pans disposed in asubstantially vertically-aligned relationship with one another. Thefirst and second overflow devices may be standpipes and the switch maybe a float switch. The first receptacle raises the temperature of itsliquid condensate to a first temperature for a first evaporativedissipation, and the second receptacle raises the temperature of itsliquid condensate to a second temperature, greater than the firsttemperature, for a second evaporative dissipation, and the thirdreceptacle raises the temperature of its liquid condensate to a thirdtemperature, greater than the second temperature, for a thirdevaporative dissipation. The evaporative condensate dissipation systemis configured to be installed in the refrigerated display device as aunitary module. A fan may be included to increase at least one of thefirst evaporative dissipation, the second evaporative dissipation, andthe third evaporative dissipation. The first receptacle may include finsdisposed thereon.

According to a further embodiment, a refrigerated display deviceincludes a temperature-controlled space storing and displaying products.A cooling system has a cooling coil operable in a cooling mode and adefrost mode, and circulates a coolant through the cooling coil duringthe cooling mode to provide cooling to the temperature-controlled space.An evaporative condensate dissipation system receives a condensateliquid from the cooling coil during the defrost mode and dissipates thecondensate liquid by evaporation. The condensate dissipation systemincludes a first pan having a first overflow device, and that receivesthe liquid condensate from the cooling coil. A second pan has a secondoverflow device and a heat exchanger, and receives the liquid condensatefrom the first pan when the liquid condensate in the first pan reachesthe first overflow device. A third pan receives the liquid condensatefrom the second pan when the liquid condensate in the second pan reachesthe second overflow device. The third pan has a heating elementcontrolled by a switch in response to a level of the liquid condensatein the third pan. The first pan and the second pan and the third pan aredisposed in a substantially vertically-aligned relationship with oneanother, and the overflow devices comprise standpipes. The coolingsystem includes a compressor and the coolant comprises a refrigerant andthe heat exchanger receives the refrigerant after being discharged fromthe compressor. The liquid condensate in the first pan is warmed to afirst temperature by exposure to ambient conditions for a firstevaporative dissipation. The liquid condensate in the second pan iswarmed to a second temperature, greater than the first temperature, byexposure to the heat exchanger for a second evaporative dissipation. Theliquid condensate in the third pan is warmed to a third temperature,greater than the second temperature, by exposure to the heating elementfor a third evaporative dissipation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments will hereafter be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein like numerals denote like elements.

FIG. 1 is an schematic image of a side elevation view of a refrigerateddisplay case having an evaporative condensate dissipation systemaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic image of a perspective view of an evaporativecondensate dissipation system for use in a refrigerated display caseaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic image of a perspective view of a first portion ofthe evaporative condensate dissipation system of FIG. 2 according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic image of a perspective view of a second portion ofthe evaporative condensate dissipation system of FIG. 2 according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic image of a perspective view of a third portion ofthe evaporative condensate dissipation system of FIG. 2 according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic image of a perspective view of an evaporativecondensate dissipation system for use in a refrigerated display caseaccording to another exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring generally to the FIGURES, a refrigerated display device isshown having an evaporative condensate dissipation system for disposingof the liquid condensate (e.g. water) from the cooling element duringthe defrost mode, according to an exemplary embodiment. The evaporativecondensate dissipation system includes a series of progressive stagesthat operate at successively higher temperatures to provide a cascadingarrangement of evaporative dissipation of the liquid condensate. Thefirst stage includes a first pan that receives the liquid condensatefrom the cooling coil and operates at an ambient first temperature toprovide a first evaporative dissipation. Any overflow from the first panis directed through a first standpipe to a second stage. The secondstage includes a second pan that receives the liquid condensate from thefirst pan via the first standpipe, and is heated by hot gas refrigerantfrom the compressor discharge for second stage operation at a highersecond temperature to provide a second evaporative dissipation. Anyoverflow from the second pan is directed through a second standpipe to athird stage. The third stage includes a third pan that receives theliquid condensate from the second pan via the second standpipe, and isheated by an electric heating element for third stage operation at ahigher third temperature to provide a third evaporative dissipation. Thepans are vertically configured for gravity feed through the successivestages, and use of the hot gas refrigerant as a second stage heat sourceimproves the efficiency of the condenser in the refrigeration system.The use of a multi-stage, gravity-feed system that uses ambient heatingand hot-gas waste heat (in the first two stages) is intended to providea reliable and energy-efficient system that can be readily installed andeasily deployed in almost any refrigerated case location. According toan alternative embodiment, the first stage including the first pan maybe heated by condensed liquid refrigerant that is discharged from thecondenser and routed through a heat exchanger associated with the firstpan, so that water in the first pan receives an additional source ofwarming, and the liquid refrigerant from the condenser receives somesubcooling to help improve the capacity of the refrigerant.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1 a temperature-controlleddisplay device (shown by way of non-limiting example as an open-frontrefrigerated case 10) with a temperature controlled space 12 having aplurality of shelves 14 for storage and display of products therein.Case 10 includes a cooling system, such as a refrigeration system 20having a cooling element 22 (e.g. evaporator, cooling coil, fan-coil,heat exchanger, etc.) that receives a coolant (e.g. a refrigerant, etc.)from the cooling system 20 during a cooling mode of operation to providecooling to the temperature-controlled space 12. Refrigeration system 20also includes a compressor 24 configured to draw returning refrigerantfrom the cooling element 22 through a suction line 26 and to dischargethe refrigerant in a superheated hot gas state through a discharge line28. Refrigeration system 20 also includes certain conventionalcomponents such as a condenser (to condense the hot gas refrigerant),and an expansion device (to expand the refrigerant for use in thecooling element) (both not shown for clarity). The case 10 also includesa compartment 16 shown by way of example as being disposed beneath thecooling element 22 and the temperature-controlled space 12. Compartment16 is shown to include an evaporative condensate dissipation system 40,and may also include components of the refrigeration system 20, such asthe compressor 24.

In some embodiments, the cooling element 22 operates at a temperaturelower than 32° F., resulting in an accumulation of frost and/or ice onan external surface of the cooling element 22 during operation in thecooling mode. After a sufficient amount of frost and/or ice accumulateson the cooling element 22, the cooling element 22 operates in a defrostmode of operation, which provides sufficient heat to melt theaccumulated frost and/or ice into a liquid condensate (e.g. water,etc.). The heat of defrosting may be provided by any suitable method,such as interrupting the cooling mode and allowing ambient temperatureto melt the frost/ice, or use of electric heating elements, or use ofhot gas refrigerant routed through the cooling element, etc. In someembodiments, a drain line is not available at the location of the casefor convenient disposal of the liquid condensate that melted from thecooling element, and the evaporative condensate dissipation system 40 isused as an alternative way to dispose of the condensate. According toone embodiment, the evaporative condensate dissipation system 40 ispackaged as a single unit that is readily installed (e.g. in aplug-and-play type manner) into the compartment 16 in a refrigeratedcase 10 that may be intended for use in an application without access toa suitable drain. The ability to readily install and remove theevaporative condensate dissipation system 40 from any case, permits thecase to be quickly adapted for an intended application, or re-adapted toa changed application, without having to custom-design the case aroundthe presence or absence of drainage capability.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 2-5, the evaporative condensatedissipation system 40 is shown in further detail according to anexemplary embodiment. System 40 is configured to receive a condensateliquid (e.g. melted frost, melted ice, etc.) from an external surface ofthe cooling element 22 during the defrost mode, and to dissipate thecondensate liquid by evaporation. The system 40 is shown to include aseries of catch-containment stages that provide a cascading back-uparrangement, where each stage operates at a progressively increasingtemperature to provide a progressively overall increased evaporativedissipation at each successive stage. The series of catch-containmentscomprise a series of stages, each having a receptacle (e.g. container,pan, etc.).

The first stage of the system includes a first receptacle 42 (e.g. wateraccumulation pan) with a first overflow device 44 (e.g. shown forexample as a standpipe, but could be a weir, etc. according toalternative embodiments) and is configured to receive the liquidcondensate from the cooling coil 22, either directly (by being disposedbeneath the cooling element 22), or indirectly (e.g. from a drain pan 30and drain line 32, see FIG. 1). The liquid condensate entering the firstreceptacle 42 usually has a temperature slightly above approximately 32°F., and is allowed to warm-up in the first receptacle 42 to a firststage temperature that is approximately equal to the ambient temperatureof the case location (e.g. 75° F. in a store environment, etc.). In someembodiments, the outside surface of the first receptacle 42 may includefins 43 or other heat transfer enhancing structure to improve heattransfer from the ambient environment to the liquid condensate. As thetemperature of the liquid condensate at the first stage approaches thefirst temperature (e.g. ambient temperature), a first evaporativedissipation occurs to dissipate the contained liquid condensate to theambient atmosphere. In the event that the rate of collection of liquidcondensate in the first stage exceeds the first evaporative dissipationrate, the second stage of the system is available.

The second stage of the system 40 includes a second receptacle 48 (e.g.water dissipation pan) with a second overflow device 50, and is disposedat a lower elevation than the first receptacle 42 and receives theliquid condensate from the first receptacle 42 (e.g. by gravity) when afirst level of the liquid condensate in the first receptacle 42 reachesthe first overflow device 44, so that any overflow from the firstreceptacle 42 is captured by the second receptacle 48. According to theillustrated embodiment, the second receptacle 48 is substantiallyvertically-aligned beneath the first receptacle 42 to permit a compactpackaging of the system's components and to permit gravity-feed of theliquid condensate from the first receptacle 42 to the second receptacle48. However, in other embodiments, the second stage receptacle 48 maynot be directly beneath the first stage receptacle 42. The secondreceptacle 48 also includes a heat exchanger 52 (e.g. a coil, fin-coil,tubing arrangement, or passages formed within the wall of a base of thepan, etc.) that receives a supply of hot gas refrigerant from thedischarge line 28 of the compressor 24 as a source of heating for thesecond stage of system. Heat exchanger 52 may include tubing (e.g. flexhoses, etc.) with quick-connect couplings 53 to engage correspondingportions of the compressor discharge line 28. The hot gas refrigerantraises the temperature of the liquid condensate in the second receptacle48 to a second stage temperature, and the hot gas refrigerant is thenrouted to the condenser (not shown) in a pre-cooled (or at leastpartially de-superheated) state which enhances overall efficiency of therefrigeration system. As the liquid condensate at the second stageapproaches the second stage temperature (e.g. higher than the firststage temperature), a second evaporative dissipation occurs to dissipatethe contained liquid condensate to the ambient atmosphere. In the eventthat the rate of collection of liquid condensate generation from thecooling element exceeds the first and second evaporative dissipationrates, the third stage of the system is available.

The third stage of the system includes a third receptacle 56 (e.g.electric back-up assist pan, etc.) disposed at a lower elevation thanthe second receptacle 48 and receives the liquid condensate from thesecond receptacle 48 when a second level of the liquid condensate in thesecond receptacle reaches the second overflow device 50, so that anyoverflow from the second receptacle 48 is captured by the thirdreceptacle 56. According to the illustrated embodiment, the thirdreceptacle 56 is substantially vertically-aligned beneath the first andsecond receptacles 42, 48 to permit a compact packaging of the system'scomponents and to permit gravity-feed of the liquid condensate from thesecond receptacle 48 to the third receptacle 56. However, in otherembodiments, the third stage receptacle 56 may be not be directlybeneath the first or second stage receptacles 42, 48. The third stagereceptacle includes a heating element 58 (e.g. electric heating element,etc.) as a source of heating for the third stage of system. The heatingelement 58 can be controlled (i.e. turned on/off, modulated, etc.) by aswitch 60 (e.g. a float switch, level switch, sensor or the like) thatis responsive to a certain level of liquid condensate in the thirdreceptacle 56 (e.g. a level slightly above the heating element so thatthe heating element is energized only when it is submerged, etc.). Asthe liquid condensate at the third stage approaches the third stagetemperature (e.g. higher than the second stage temperature), a thirdevaporative dissipation occurs to dissipate the contained liquidcondensate to the ambient atmosphere.

Referring to FIG. 6, the evaporative condensate dissipation system 40 isshown with an additional source of heating for the first stage of thesystem according to an alternative embodiment. As previously describedwith reference to FIG. 2, the first stage of the system includes a firstreceptacle 42 (e.g. water accumulation pan) with a first overflow device44 (e.g. shown for example as a standpipe, but could be a weir, etc.according to alternative embodiments) and is configured to receive theliquid condensate from the cooling coil 22, either directly (by beingdisposed beneath the cooling element 22), or indirectly (e.g. from adrain pan 30 and drain line 32, see FIG. 1). The liquid condensateentering the first receptacle 42 usually has a temperature slightlyabove approximately 32° F. According to the illustrated embodiment, thefirst receptacle 42 also includes a heat exchanger 72 (e.g. a coil,fin-coil, tubing arrangement, or passages formed within the wall of abase of the pan, etc.) that receives a supply of condensed refrigerantfrom the discharge line of the condenser as a supplemental source ofheating for the first stage of system, and for subcooling the condensedrefrigerant. Heat exchanger 72 may include tubing (e.g. flex hoses,etc.) with quick-connect couplings 73 to engage corresponding portionsof the condenser discharge line. The condensed refrigerant (typically ata saturated liquid state) raises the temperature of the liquidcondensate in the first receptacle 42 to a first stage temperature, andthe subcooled refrigerant is then routed to cooling element in asubcooled state which enhances overall efficiency of the refrigerationsystem.

In order to further enhance the first, second and/or third evaporativedissipation rates, the system may include one or more fans disposedadjacent to the pans. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a fan 64 may beconfigured to draw air from a front region of the case (where cooled anddehumidified air from the air curtain may spill over the front of thecase), across the pans and discharge the air rearwardly of the case(e.g. away from a store environment). According to one embodiment, thefan may be controlled by a suitable switch and control scheme turn onand off on an as-needed basis. For example, the fan may be controlled byswitch 60 so that the fan turns on and off when the electric heatingelement turns on and off, e.g. as one control scheme indicative of theneed for enhanced evaporative capability.

According to any exemplary embodiment, a refrigerated display device hasan evaporative condensate dissipation system for disposing the liquidcondensate (e.g. water) generated by the cooling element during thedefrost mode. The evaporative condensate dissipation system includes aseries of progressive stages that operate at successively highertemperatures to provide a cascading arrangement of evaporativedissipation of the liquid condensate. The first stage includes a firstpan that receives the liquid condensate from the cooling coil andoperates at an ambient first temperature to provide a first evaporativedissipation. The first pan may also receive heating from condensedliquid refrigerant routed to/through the pan from the condenser. Anyoverflow from the first pan is directed through a first standpipe to asecond stage. The second stage includes a second pan that receives theliquid condensate from the first pan via the first standpipe, and isheated by hot gas refrigerant from the compressor discharge for secondstage operation at a higher second temperature to provide a secondevaporative dissipation. Any overflow from the second pan is directedthrough a second standpipe to a third stage. The third stage includes athird pan that receives the liquid condensate from the second pan viathe second standpipe, and is heated by an electric heating element forthird stage operation at a higher third temperature to provide a thirdevaporative dissipation. The pans are vertically configured for gravityfeed through the successive stages, and use of the hot gas refrigerantas a second stage heat source improves the efficiency of the condenserin the refrigeration system.

As utilized herein, the terms “approximately,” “about,” “substantially,”and similar terms are intended to have a broad meaning in harmony withthe common and accepted usage by those of ordinary skill in the art towhich the subject matter of this disclosure pertains. It should beunderstood by those of skill in the art who review this disclosure thatthese terms are intended to allow a description of certain featuresdescribed and claimed without restricting the scope of these features tothe precise numerical ranges provided. Accordingly, these terms shouldbe interpreted as indicating that insubstantial or inconsequentialmodifications or alterations of the subject matter described and claimedare considered to be within the scope of the invention as recited in theappended claims.

It should be noted that the term “exemplary” as used herein to describevarious embodiments is intended to indicate that such embodiments arepossible examples, representations, and/or illustrations of possibleembodiments (and such term is not intended to connote that suchembodiments are necessarily extraordinary or superlative examples).

The terms “coupled,” “connected,” and the like as used herein mean thejoining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Suchjoining may be stationary (e.g., permanent) or moveable (e.g., removableor releasable). Such joining may be achieved with the two members or thetwo members and any additional intermediate members being integrallyformed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two membersor the two members and any additional intermediate members beingattached to one another.

It should be noted that the orientation of various elements may differaccording to other exemplary embodiments, and that such variations areintended to be encompassed by the present disclosure.

No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recitedusing the phrase “means for.” Furthermore, no element, component ormethod step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to thepublic, regardless of whether the element, component or method step isexplicitly recited in the claims.

It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement ofthe refrigerated display device or case with an improved evaporativecondensate dissipation system as shown in the various exemplaryembodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of thepresent inventions have been described in detail in this disclosure,those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readilyappreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations insizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the variouselements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials,colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novelteachings and advantages of the subject matter disclosed herein. Forexample, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed ofmultiple parts or elements, the position of elements may be reversed orotherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements orpositions may be altered or varied. Accordingly, all such modificationsare intended to be included within the scope of the present invention asdefined in the appended claims. The order or sequence of any process ormethod steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternativeembodiments. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissionsmay be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of thevarious exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of thepresent inventions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A refrigerated display device, comprising atemperature-controlled space configured for the storage and display ofproducts; a refrigeration system operable in a cooling mode and adefrost mode, the refrigeration system having at least a compressor anda cooling element, the compressor configured to circulate a refrigerantthrough the cooling element during the cooling mode to provide coolingto the temperature-controlled space; a condensate dissipation systemconfigured to receive a condensate liquid from an external surface ofthe cooling element during the defrost mode, and to dissipate thecondensate liquid by evaporation, the condensate dissipation systemcomprising: a first receptacle having a first overflow device, the firstreceptacle configured to receive the liquid condensate from the coolingelement; a second receptacle having a second overflow device, the secondreceptacle disposed lower than the first receptacle and configured toreceive the liquid condensate from the first receptacle when a firstlevel of the liquid condensate in the first receptacle reaches the firstoverflow device, the second receptacle including a heat exchangerconfigured to receive a hot gas refrigerant supply from the compressor;and a third receptacle disposed lower than the second receptacle andconfigured to receive the liquid condensate from the second receptaclewhen a second level of the liquid condensate in the second receptaclereaches the second overflow device, the third receptacle having anelectric heating element operably controlled by a switch responsive to athird level of the liquid condensate in the third receptacle.
 2. Therefrigerated display device of claim 1, wherein the first receptacle andthe second receptacle and the third receptacle each comprise pansdisposed in a substantially vertically-aligned relationship with oneanother.
 3. The refrigerated display device of claim 1, wherein thefirst overflow device comprises a first standpipe having a first openingthat substantially corresponds to the first level of the liquidcondensate in the first receptacle.
 4. The refrigerated display deviceof claim 3, wherein the second overflow device comprises a secondstandpipe having a second opening that substantially corresponds to thesecond level of the liquid condensate in the second receptacle.
 5. Therefrigerated display device of claim 1, wherein the heat exchangercomprises a tubing arrangement coupled to a discharge of the compressor.6. The refrigerated display device of claim 1, wherein the switchcomprises a float switch.
 7. The refrigerated display device of claim 1,wherein the first receptacle is configured to raise a temperature of theliquid condensate to a first temperature for a first evaporativedissipation.
 8. The refrigerated display device of claim 7, wherein thesecond receptacle is configured to raise a temperature of the liquidcondensate to a second temperature, greater than the first temperature,for a second evaporative dissipation.
 9. The refrigerated display deviceof claim 8, wherein the third receptacle is configured to raise atemperature of the liquid condensate to a third temperature, greaterthan the second temperature, for a third evaporative dissipation. 10.The refrigerated display device of claim 9, further comprising at leastone fan configured to increase at least one of the first evaporativedissipation, the second evaporative dissipation, and the thirdevaporative dissipation.
 11. The refrigerated display device of claim 1,wherein the condensate dissipation system is configured to be installedin the refrigerated display device as a unitary module.
 12. Therefrigerated display device of claim 1, wherein the first receptaclefurther comprises a plurality of fins disposed thereon.
 13. Therefrigerated display device of claim 1, wherein the first receptaclefurther comprises a heat exchanger configured to receive condensedliquid refrigerant configured to warm the liquid condensate in the firstreceptacle.
 14. A refrigerated display device, comprising atemperature-controlled space configured for the storage and display ofproducts; a cooling system having a cooling element operable in acooling mode and a defrost mode, the cooling system configured tocirculate a coolant through the cooling element during the cooling modeto provide cooling to the temperature-controlled space; a condensatedissipation system configured to receive a condensate liquid from thecooling element during the defrost mode, and to dissipate the condensateliquid by evaporation, the condensate dissipation system comprising: afirst pan having a first overflow device, the first pan configured toreceive the liquid condensate from the cooling element; a second panhaving a second overflow device, the second pan configured to receivethe liquid condensate from the first pan when a first level of theliquid condensate in the first pan reaches the first overflow device,the second pan including a heat exchanger; and a third pan configured toreceive the liquid condensate from the second pan when a second level ofthe liquid condensate in the second pan reaches the second overflowdevice, the third pan having a heating element operably controlled by aswitch responsive to a third level of the liquid condensate in the thirdpan.
 15. The refrigerated display device of claim 14, wherein the firstpan and the second pan and the third pan are disposed in a substantiallyvertically-aligned relationship with one another.
 16. The refrigerateddisplay device of claim 15, wherein the overflow devices comprisestandpipes.
 17. The refrigerated display device of claim 14, wherein thecooling system comprises a compressor and the coolant comprises arefrigerant and the heat exchanger is configured to receive therefrigerant after being discharged from the compressor.
 18. Therefrigerated display device of claim 17, wherein the first pan comprisesa heat exchanger configured to receive the refrigerant in a condensedliquid state.
 19. The refrigerated display device of claim 14, whereinthe liquid condensate in the first pan is configured to be warmed to afirst temperature for a first evaporative dissipation.
 20. Therefrigerated display device of claim 19, wherein the liquid condensatein the second pan is configured to be warmed to a second temperature,greater than the first temperature, by exposure to the heat exchangerfor a second evaporative dissipation.
 21. The refrigerated displaydevice of claim 20, wherein the liquid condensate in the third pan isconfigured to be warmed to a third temperature, greater than the secondtemperature, by exposure to the heating element for a third evaporativedissipation.